The Education Front Blog

Texas gets C in math, A-minus in English in new study

Texas got mixed reviews in a comparison of its English and math standards with new national benchmarks for those subjects developed with the cooperation of all states except Texas and Alaska. The study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found that Texas’ math standards are “clearly inferior” to the so-called Common Core standards for the nation, while English language arts standards adopted in Texas were deemed very good by the research group. The state’s math standards got a C and the English standards received an A-minus.

State officials last year declined to get involved in development of the national curriculum standards, contending that what Texas already had on the books was superior to anything that could be written through the national effort. But the Fordham Institute graded the national standards with an A-minus in math and a B-plus in English language arts. “The rigor and subject matter content of the Common Core standards surpass most states’ standards in these subjects,” said Chester E. Finn, president of the institute. “As state officials decide whether to replace their present standards with the Common Core, we hope they will consider this analysis.”

There is little chance that Texas will adopt the national model even if studies show that it would be a step up for Texas schoolchildren. Gov. Rick Perry and state Education Commissioner Robert Scott – a Perry appointee – have made it clear Texas is not interested in following standards developed outside the state. So far, about half of the states have adopted the Common Core benchmarks for their public schools. Only two states – California and Indiana – had English standards “clearly superior” to the national standards. No states had math standards that were clearly superior.

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News, analysis and opinion on reforms being offered to improve schools, whether the ideas originate in Washington, Austin or Dallas. The online discussion will take education policy debates seriously, while it connects them to students from grade school through college.